“The EST Of NXT” Bianca Belair earned another opportunity to challenge for the NXT Women’s Championship on the January 15th episode of NXT. Belair outlasted the likes of Mia Yim, Shotzi Blackheart, Shayna Baszler, Io Shirai, Mercedes Martinez, Candice LeRae and others to pave her road to TakeOver: Portland on February 16th.
WHAT?! @BiancaBelairWWE just ELIMINATED @CandiceLeRae! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/f08zPyVNQo
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 16, 2020
SHE DID IT!!!
The #ESTofNXT @BiancaBelairWWE has WON the No. 1 Contender's #BattleRoyal! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/YMRL7hTCb8
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) January 16, 2020
Rhea Ripley is the current NXT Women’s Champion but she’ll be defending that title against Toni Storm at WWE Worlds Collide on January 25th during Royal Rumble weekend. The winner of that match will head to TakeOver: Portland and defend the title against Bianca Belair.
The #1 contender’s Battle Royal also saw the return of Kacy Catanzaro who has not wrestled since July of 2019. This past September, it was reported by Squared Circle Sirens that Kacy made the decision to stop wrestling after suffering a back injury. Catanzaro was still under contract with WWE and she nor the company publicly commented on her status.
In regard to the NXT Women’s Title match at TakeOver: Portland, if Rhea Ripley can retain at Worlds Collide, it will be the second time that she and Bianca Belair will have gone one-on-one and it could be the first time that Bianca clashes with Toni Storm in singles action if Toni can defeat Rhea Ripley.
